Tape cartridge loader assembly

ABSTRACT

A data archiving apparatus includes an autoloader for automated transfer of data tape cartridges between at least one tape drive and storage locations of at least one cartridge storage magazine. One or more hard disks is mounted within the autoloader apparatus. The hard disk is connected for data transfer between the hard disk and the tape drive so that data caching can be accomplished during the data archiving process. Interface controls for both the tape drive and the one or more hard disks is provided within the housing of the data archiving apparatus to permit simultaneous operation of the hard disk and the tape drive and for data transfer there between. The hard disks may be exchanged by a user to increase data storage capacity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/516,543, filed Oct. 31, 2003, which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a taped-based data storagesystem, and, in particular, to an automated tape loader and tape drivefor data back up.

2. Description of the Related Art

Computer systems and computer based systems require data storage systemsfor storage of the computer data. To insure against loss of the data,data archiving systems have been developed. A common data archivingsystem includes one or more tape drives which utilize removable tapecartridges for recording and playback of the computer data. The tapecartridges have the benefit of large storage capacity and the ability tochange cartridges to extend the storage capacity to a virtually infiniteamount. However, manually operated tape drives require the presence ofskilled personnel to exchange the tapes on a regular schedule.

So-called autoloaders have been developed which automate the exchange ofthe tape cartridges into and out of the tape drives. These autoloadersmove tapes generally one at a time from storage magazines, which hold anumber and store of tape cartridges, to the tape drive and, uponcompletion of recording and/or playback from the tape drive, back to astorage location in the storage magazine. These autoloaders aregenerally connected into a computer system or computer network and areprovided with an appropriate number of tape cartridges in the storagemagazines. Autoloaders having a single drive record the data onto tapesone at a time in the drives. Autoloaders systems having multiple tapedrives permit data to be provided to the multiple drives simultaneouslyor nearly simultaneously, thereby reducing the data backup time.

However, tape backup systems still suffer from the disadvantage that thetransfer rate for the data to the tape cartridge or from the tapecartridge is limited compared to the transfer rate of data within mostother components in the computer system or network. The result is thatdata backup and/or data archiving generally must be performed duringdowntimes for the computer system. For example, for a business thatshuts down each day, the data backup is generally performed while thebusiness is shut down. However, many businesses operate on a 24 hourschedule so that there is no ideal time for performing data backup. Evenfor those businesses which perform the data backup for the computersystem during the hours when the business is shut down, failure of thecomputer system during working hours may result in the loss of some orall of a day's data since the failure may result in a complete loss ofdata since the last backup.

It would be a benefit if a data archiving system were provided whichpossesses enough speed to perform the backup during the full operationof the computer system or network. It would also be an advantage if adata archiving system were provided with a high data transfer rate and asmall backup window.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a data backup and/or archiving systemhaving one or more hard disks in the data archiving apparatus with oneor more tape drives and an autoloader for loading tape cartridges intothe tape drives. By transfer of the data to the hard disks and thentransfer of the data from the hard disks to the tape or visa versa, thedata transfer rate is increased significantly over that of a tape loaderand tape drive alone. As such, the backup window possible with thepresent tape loader is significantly reduced. The present tape loaderwith one or more internal hard disks maintains the benefits of tapebackup while simultaneously providing the benefits of hard disk databackup.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an autoloader of the presentinvention with its housing removed and including an automated loadingtape apparatus for a tape drive as well as an internal hard disk withinthe autoloader unit according to the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the autoloader apparatus of FIG. 1showing the space available for providing a hard disk; and

FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 butincluding a hard disk inserted into the hard disk space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, an autoloader 10 includes a frame 12 which isnormally encased within a housing 11 (as shown in dotted outline). Onthe frame 12 is provided a tape drive 14 for recording data onto andreading data from tape cartridges. The tape drive 14 is connected by ahost cable 16 to a computer system or computer network so that the dataof a computer system or computer network may be transferred over thehost cable 16 to and from the tape drive 14. The autoloader 10 alsoincludes, in the illustrated example, a pair of tape storage magazines18 and 20 which each have a plurality of storage slots in which tapecartridges 22 are stored. In the illustration, each of the tape storagemagazines 18 and 20 hold eight cartridges 22 in two rows of four each.Other arrangements of tape storage magazines are of course encompassedwithin the scope of the present invention including the provision ofonly one tape storage magazine or more than two tape storage magazines.It is of course within the scope of this invention that tape storagemagazines having different numbers and arrangements of storage slots mayalso be provided including tape storage magazines having only a singlerow of slots or tape storage magazines having three or more rows.

The two tape storage magazines 18 or 20 are mounted on the frame 12 witha transfer space 24 defined therebetween. In the transfer space 24 ismounted a robotic cartridge shuttle apparatus 26. The cartridge shuttle26 is automatically operable to move within the transfer space 24 so asto access each one of the tape cartridges individually in the two tapestorage magazines and transfer each one of the tape cartridges in turnto the tape drive 24. The cartridge shuttle 26 also removes the tapecartridges 22 from the tape drive 14 and transfers the tape cartridgesback to a storage slot in the tape storage magazines 18 or 20. Thecartridge shuttle 26 moves linearly within the transfer space 24 and, ina preferred embodiment, rotates the tape cartridges 22 to reorient thecartridges 22 for mounting in the tape drive 14 and for storage in thestorage slots of the storage magazines 18 and 20. The cartridge shuttle26 also includes a vertical elevator mechanism for access to the storageslots disposed vertically above one another in the tape storagemagazines 18 and 20. Other arrangements of tape cartridge shuttles andcartridge transfer mechanisms are also encompassed within the scope ofthe present invention, the illustrated example being only for purposesof explanation in understanding the scope of this invention.

The tape storage magazines 18 and 20 are each preferably removable fromthe frame 12 at front portions 28 and 30, respectively, such as byopening an access door in the housing (not shown) or by the storagemagazines including a position of the front panel of the housing. Inthis way, the tape storage magazines 18 and 20 may be removed from theautoloader apparatus, tapes mounted therein or exchanged for othertapes, and the storage magazines 18 and 20 returned to their positionson the frame 12 for continued operation of the autoloader apparatus 10.Thus, the present autoloader has a large data storage capacity since ithas a number of tape cartridges provided therein and an even greaternumber that can be provided. The ability to exchange the tape cartridgeswithin the autoloader extends the storage capacity of the presentapparatus by many times. It is foreseeable that the tape storagemagazines 18 and 20 may be exchangeable for other already filled tapestorage magazines to increase the ease of use and storage capacity evenmore.

The autoloader 10 of the illustrated example includes a front paneldisplay 32 which provides status information to the user and operationalcontrols for operation of the automated data archiving system. Inaddition to, or instead of the front panel display 32, a mail slot maybe provided for transfer for tapes one at a time into and out of theautoloader apparatus without requiring removal of the entire tapestorage magazines 18 or 20. The primary control of the autoloader is viafirmware and/or software, for example, through a user interface runningon the computer system or network to which the autoloader is connected.

In the present autoloader 10, a power supply 34 is provided at the backalong side the tape drive 14. The power supply 34 is connected to linepower and/or to a battery backup system and provides operating power tothe devices within the autoloader apparatus. Adjacent the power supply34 is included a motor 36 which moves the cartridge shuttle 26 withinthe transfer space 24. Other motors and drive assemblies are providedfor affecting movement of the cartridge shuttle 26, as will beappreciated by those of skill in this art.

In the space on the frame 12 at the opposite side of the tape drive 14is provided one or more printed circuit boards 38. The printed circuitboard 38 includes the drive and control circuitry for operation of thetape drive 14, motor 36, cartridge shuttle 26 and other operationalelements of the present autoloader 10, for example, using the operatingsoftware. The printed circuit board 38, or another printed circuit boardwhich is separate therefrom, controls the data transfer from thecomputer or computer network to which the present autoloader isconnected for data archiving and backup. It is, of course, possible thatthe printed circuit boards 38 may be replaced by other circuit designswhich perform the functions thereof.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the autoloader 10 is shown in a back view with acover removed. The tape storage magazines 18 and 20 are provided oneither side of the cartridge shuttle 26 for feeding the tape cartridges22 to the tape drive 14. The motor 36 moves the cartridge shuttle 26within the transfer space 24, as described above. As shown in furtherdetail, the frame 12 includes transverse walls 40 and 42 which separatethe cartridge storage magazines 18 and 20 from the printed circuit boardarea 38 and power supply area 34, respectively. The transverse walls 40and 42 connect to longitudinal wall portions 44 and 46 between which ismounted the tape drive 14. In particular, support bracket elements 48and 50 are provided between the longitudinal wall portions 44 and 46 andengage the opposite sides of the tape drive 14 to hold the tape drive 14in place in a predetermined position so that the cartridge shuttle 26may reliably transfer the tape cartridges 22 from and to the tape drive14.

The support brackets 48 and 50 raise the tape drive 14 above the frame12 so as to define a space 52 between the tape drive 14 and the frame12. This space 52 is shaped to accept a computer hard disk. Forinstance, the space 52 may be of a size corresponding to one of thestandard form factors for computer hard disks, such as a 5.25 inch formfactor, 3.5 inch form factor or 2.5 inch form factor. Other form factorsare also encompassed within the present invention, including PC cards,compact flash cards and other hard drive sizes.

The illustrated autoloader includes a space for mounting a single harddisk. However, it is envisioned that spaces may be provided within theautoloader apparatus for two or more hard disks. In such cases, themultiple hard disks may be used to expand the hard disk storagecapacity, provide added reliability and/or provide additional back upspeed.

Also visible in FIG. 2 is the tape drive cable 54 which connects betweenthe tape drive 14 and the printed circuit boards 38. The operation andcontrol of the tape drive 14 is carried out through data carried via thetape drive cable 54.

In FIG. 3, the hard disk space 52 has been filled by a hard disk 56.Preferably, the hard disk 56 is mounted to the mounting portions 48 and50 between the longitudinal wall portions 44 and 46. The hard disk 56 isconnected to the printed circuit board 38 by a hard disk cable 58. Boththe hard disk cable 58 and tape drive cable 54 are formed of ribboncable and thereby provide both control and data transfer paths foroperation of the respective devices and data transfer there between. Apower supply connection is also made to the hard disk 56 from the powersupply for the present device. Other cable types and connections arealso encompassed within the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the hard disk cable 58 is connected to adifferent portion of the printed circuit board than the tape drive cable54. This different portion may be a separate printed circuit board orother controller unit or may be different portions of the same printedcircuit board or controller unit.

Instead of the ribbon cable 58, the hard disk may be connected to afixed data and control connection to provide for hot swapping of thehard disk 56 into and out of the autoloader apparatus 10. To facilitatesuch hot swapping, the housing 11 may include an access opening oraccess door to the hard disk slot or slots.

The printed circuit board 38 of the preferred embodiment runs accordingto the SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) standard. The data flowpath is from and/or to the external host computer or network to theinternal controller on the printed circuit board 38 and then to eitherthe tape drive 14 or hard disk 56, or both. By transferring the datafrom the computer or computer network to the hard disk, the datatransfer rate is increased and thus the time for effecting the transferof the data to the archiving system is decreased. Preferably, the backuptime is decreased sufficiently that the computer or network may bebacked up while in full operation without a noticeable decrease inoperating performance. The archived data, once on the hard disk 56, maybe transferred internally within the autoloader apparatus to the tapecartridges through the tape drive 14. In systems requiring a highercapacity of data archiving capability, two or more hard disks may beprovided in the autoloader apparatus in addition to the tape drive 14.It is also foreseeable that two or more tape drives may be provided inthe system.

The hard disks can be installed into the back of the loader in any freeslots by the user or may be provided already fixed in place as apre-mounted drive in the loader when the device is supplied to the enduser. The hard disks are connected to the autoloader interface by swapconnectors or by a cable or by other means. In a backup situation, thedata can first be transferred to the hard disks as a cache memory deviceprior to transfer of the data to tape cartridges.

The exemplary autoloader includes three dedicated areas within theautoloader housing; a power area, a storage engine area, and an externalinterface and printed circuit board area. The configuration of thepresent autoloader is in a standard form factor such as a 2 U formfactor which fits into standard computer mounting racks. Other formfactors, such as a 1 U, 3 U or 4 U form factor, are also envisioned.

By removing that hard disk from the autoloader, the autoloader may beused as a standard tape cartridge autoloader having only one or moretape drives. By mounting one or more hard disks into the device, theautoloader may be configured to cache the data being transferred betweenthe tape cartridges and the host computer system or network onto thehard disks. Configuration of the hard disks by mounting in the presentautoloader is a simple operation which can easily be done by an operatorof a standard computer system. This is accomplished by mounting the harddisks in the dedicated hard disk slot of the present autoloader. In theillustrated example, the dedicated hard disk slot is underneath the tapedrive, although other locations may be provided. The connection of thehard disk to the printed circuit board for control and data transfer isalso readily accomplished by an operator of a standard computer system.Any number of hard disks and tape drive may be provided in combinationin the autoloader.

Thus, there is shown and described a tape cartridge autoloader apparatushaving a hard disk provided internally of the autoloader device.Enhanced transfer rates are provided between the autoloader and/or databackup library and the host computer or network. The backup window foreffecting a backup of the data on the computer or network is minimize.The backup of the data may be done at a time which is convenient for theuser, such as by copying the data onto the internal hard drive of theautoloader and then copying the data from the cache on the hard disk tothe tape cartridges. The present hard disk can also be configured tohold the most recently used files of a user or to mirror the tapecartridge data. It is also foreseeable to configure the hard disk as aninternal RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) system.

References to a hard disk in the present application encompass varioushard disk configurations and are not limited to the various interfacetypes, capacities or form factors. Most hard disk units which arecommercially available include a plurality of physical hard disksplatters within a single hard disk unit. The preferred embodiment of thepresent invention envisions use of standard, readily available hard diskunits having plural hard disk platters mounted within a housing.

Although other modifications and changes may be suggested by thoseskilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embodywithin the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications asreasonably and properly come within the scope of their contribution tothe art.

1. An apparatus for data archiving, comprising: a housing; at least onecartridge storage magazine mounted within said housing, said at leastone cartridge storage magazine having a plurality of cartridge storagelocations adapted for holding data tape cartridges; at least one tapedrive mounted within said housing and operable to receive a data tapecartridge for data transfer between said at least one tape drive and thedata tape cartridge; a cartridge shuttle mounted within said housing andoperable to transfer data tape cartridges from ones of said storageslots in said at least one storage magazine and said at least one tapedrive; and at least one hard disk mounted in said housing and connectedfor data transfer between said at least one hard disk and said at leastone tape drive.
 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising: mounting portions within said housing defining a mountinglocation for said at least one hard disk.
 3. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 2, wherein said mounting portions are configured for selectiveremoval of said at least one hard disk from said housing.
 4. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a hard diskinterface mounted in said housing and connected to said at least onehard disk for control thereof and data transfer therebetween.
 5. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: a tape driveinterface mounted within said housing, said tape drive interface beingseparate from said hard disk interface; and a data connection betweensaid tape drive interface and said hard disk interface.
 6. A method fordata archiving, comprising the steps of: transferring data from acomputer system or computer network to a hard disk in a data backupdevice; loading a tape cartridge from a cartridge storage magazinewithin said data backup device to a tape drive within said data backupdevice using an automated cartridge shuttle mounted and movable withinsaid data backup device; transferring data from said hard disk withinsaid data backup device to said tape cartridge in said tape drive;unloading said tape cartridge from said tape drive and returning saidtape cartridge to said cartridge storage magazine using said automatedcartridge shuttle; loading a further tape cartridge into said tape driveusing said cartridge shuttle; and transferring additional data from saidhard disk to said further tape cartridge in said tape drive.
 7. A methodas claimed in claim 6, further comprising the step of: keeping a copy ofthe data transferred to the tape cartridges on the hard disk as aduplicate data copy.